Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-21
The Evening Exercises.

ne pIueIS ol the executive committee
were 70 he ready to move from the Brooks
House To the armory at seven o'clock. and
promptly at that hour the command of Col.
Holbrook, the marshal of the evening. H.
fall in by regiments and organizations
rang out as sharp and clear as in the old
days quarter century ago The ranks
We're formed, the First Regiment band ap-
peared on the scene and with ex- Gov Long.
the orator of the evening, escorted by Col
Hooker, the procession moved away, and on
arrival at the armory the veterans, their
ladies, and limited number of invited
guests occupied the seats reserved in front
The armory was tastefully decorated with
the national colOrs, and in the rear of the
platform and above the seats occupied bv
the band hung a portrait of Gen Grant.
At either side of the platform was a stack
of muskets. and on either side stood also a
battery gun pointing grimly down the hall
On the platform were seated besides eI-
Gov. Farnham, president of the evening.
and Hon John b. Long, the orator. ex-
Gov. Holbrook, Gov. Ormsbee and Lieut.
Gov. Fuller
The exercises opened with a selection bv
the band, A Day III Camp in 1862, " which
introduced the various bugle calls and drum
taps of the daily routine in camp with which
the veterans were so familiar in 1861 90.
PRAYER was offered by Rev. c. O. Day Col.
Farhhams opening remarks were brief
and felicitous For the twenty fourth time.
he said the surviving officers of the Yer
mont regiments which fought in the war for
the Union have met to revive the old mem
cries and cement the ties of comradeship
1t is not strange that time begins u tell ON
these veterans, and that some have dropped
out of the ranks The trials and hArdships
of 81, 90, 'G3 and "a told on the strength
of the strongest constitution. The locks
have grown thin and boards are white, hut
knoW that the hearts are as quick and
true 10 the Impulses Of patriotism as they
were then IL Is well that these yearly
gatherings should be held and the old mem
cries revived In the midst Of besetting
dAngers--of the threats of communists and
anarchists-it is well that there should be
something to rekindle the fires of patriotism
The male quartet gave a selection, and
| Col. Farnham then introduced Mr. Long
abiding to him as one who discharged his
duty as governor of Massachusetts with
conspicuous ability, and who was now doing
loyal service for the whole country in the
halls of Congress. Gov Long, on rising
gracefully acknowledged this compliment
10y saying IF did discharge my duty as
chief executive Of Massachusetts with any
thing of fidelity, it was because had such
admirable examples set me by the governors
of neighhoring states He then proceeded
with his Grafton, which is printed in full in
this issue Its delivery was listened TO with
close attention by the large audience pres
ent, and at many points the speaker was
warmly applauded, especially his spirited
and feeling illusions To Gems. Stannard and
Logan. At the conclusion of the Grafton
Col. HolbrOok moved a vote of thanks.
which was carried with enthusiasm.
After a selection by the band. Col Farm
ham said the executive committee had de
cided on new departure this year, and in
stead of the usual toasts and responses Civ
en- IN the presence Of the veterans only, short
speeches were TO be given there in the pres
ence of the whole audience the speeches
were 10 be short, and fearing lest the pres
ident of the evening should not have the
nerve to use the gavel promptly at the ex-
piratlon of the hye-minutes limit, he had
been authorized 10 name toast master for
the evening At Cold Harbor a Young staff
officer was sent down the line with an i'm
Portant message. He was brought back on
stretcher pierced with bullets, but as he
passed his commanding officer he waved his
hand and said, Il have delivered your mes
a"bS Aho speaker nan the pleasure OF IN
Producing Col George w Hooker,
Col. Hooker, on taking the chair, thanked
the veterans for honoring the people Of
Brattleboro with their presence and intro
duced as the first speaker Gov Ormsbee
The governor paid warm tribute of praise
10 Gov. Longs eloquent address. and said
there was not boy in the audience but
would heed its lessons and be educated by
by them.
Lieut. Gov. Fuller spoke To the senti-
ment, Vermont cares for her soldiers %
He said the bravery and fidelity of the
American soldier was even greater than
that Of the soldier of Pompeii, who stood
at his post because he had no orders 10
leave II, and died overwhelmed In the ashes
OF Nesuylus. Ii was an impressive sight
when on the 10Th day of August the sol